(Closed) Wine box ceremony….. sans wine?? Need creative ideas!

So I’ve loved the idea of a wine box ceremony ever since I first heard about it around the ‘bee like 6 months ago. I’ve talked to our officiant about it and my Fiance. We all love it. But there is one problem that has kept me from committing to it…. and Miss Hot Dog’s post today reminded me I need to make a decision!

So the problem? My Fiance doesn’t drink! 🙂

If you’re not familiar… the wine box ceremony is when you and Fiance write each other a letter and seal the letter in an envelope before the ceremony. Then during the ceremony you put the letters into the box along with a bottle of wine and two glasses. On your 5th anniversary you drink the wine together and read the letters (or earlier if you ever come to a time where you’re considering calling it quits).

Just putting the letters in the box with nothing to share seems a little undone… but I can’t think of anything else that keeps 5 years! I’m pretty sure sparkling grape juice does not last that long… neither does candy.

I don’t think you need the wine, just the letters. Just thinking you don’t want to read the letters with food poisoning. Maybe if there’s other memories to put in the box but other than that I think food is best eaten fresh.

Maybe you can put the notes with cash for a nice dinner out – the idea being that you would take time to go out just the two of you and enjoy each other – accomplishing the same idea as the wine box but without the wine – and you’ll forget about the cash so the dinner out won’t be a burden. I don’t know..just an idea!

I am in the same situation as you. We really love the wine box/letter ceremony, but my Fiance doesn’t drink either. We were thinking about putting in two bottles; wine for me and sparkling cider for him.

Some gift cards expire, so be careful with that, and cider does not have to be refridgerated if it has not been opened.

You would just want to make sure that the box is kept in a cool dry place.

I was going to suggest cash for a dinner as well. How’s your budget? And what’s the five year anniversary present? Wait… I’ll look it up.

Ok its wood. And I assume the box is made of wood already so that seems kind of dumb. Do you guys have the cash for some other gift? Like say a necklace for you and a watch for your FI? Or you could ask your parents & in-laws to come up with a gift that you can either disclose or keep a secret?

@noritake22: I’m glad I’m not the only one 🙂 I’ll have to look into the cider… sparkling grape juice only lasts like 2 years so that is kind of out. good call on the expiration for gift cards! I didn’t think of that… i was just thinking that plain cash seemed a little boring haha.

@PrairieGirl: Our budget sucks. our budget for this is 0 lol. we definitely couldn’t do big (expensive) gifts. I mean if its 50-100 we can make it happen… but i don’t know what we could get for that.

We are doing the wine box thing too:) We are writting our letters and putting a picture of us and our wedding invite in the box. I think as long as you put stuff in there that will remind each of you why you love each other it will be enough. The wine is just an added thing for you two to drink and talk over, but really isn’t needed. Maybe you could put stuff in there from over the course of your relationship (i.e.: movie tickets from first time you sent, reciept from favorite restaurant, a momento from a vacation you took together, like the room key). Just turn it into a time capsule of your relationship.

When your officiant talks about the box he can just mention how it contains things from over the course of your relationship and how each item holds a special memory for the two of you. In five years the two of you will open the box and look over the memories you have made and put in new momentos of recent memories. If things should faulter and then you two will open the box and look at each item and read your letters and rediscover why your love is so special. <– Or something like that:)

@Daisylynn: i love that!! a time capsule… that is a really great idea! I am actually super terrible about keeping mementos (i know i know, i’m so not a girl) but i know my fi has kept most of our movie stubs. i could also maybe put some pics of us in there. liking this… 🙂

Yes, I think momentos would be a great idea! Maybe have your mementos for each other be a surprise in addition to the letters – like sealing a favorite picture in your letter, so your hubby doesn’t know what picture he’ll see when he opens it.